Wardrobe suitcase



June 6, 1933. N. z. BUTTERICK WARDROBE SUITCASE Filed June 5. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z)? Z. Baiierick Gttorneg I N. Z. BUTTERICK WARDROBE SUITCASE June 6, 1933;

Filed June 3, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhwentor V Gttorneg Patented June, 6, 1933 muses z. nummcx. or anon; rmma -wannnom: smoasn Application fled am s, 1931. Serial No. sums.

This invention relates towardrobe suitcases designed to securely hold garments in a properly arranged condition without danger of mis lacement or shifting and consequent wrinliling during transportation.

Among the objects of the invention are to a provide. novel and efficient means for holding the garments in a smooth condition when the suitcase is opened, to provide a support on which the clothes are spread with the suitcase in open position and which is so connected to the suitcase as to fold in a curved form without sharp bends so that the supported clothes are similarly folded, to arrange the support so that it forms a false bottom for the suitcase folding therewith, and to provide such a. support with means for securingthe clothes thereto.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafter apparent, one embodiment will now be described in detail and specifically claimed, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the case with one side opened to expose the parts forming this invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the case showing it closed in fulllines and partially opened in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of p the case disclosing means for -holding the garments at their lower ends Figure 4 1s a deta1l section on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken vertically through the case in its opened position;

Figure 6 is a similar section showing the case closed; and

Figure 7 is a detail perspective showing a hanger rack and hanger support as used herewith, the rack and hanger support being shown in disassembled relation.

In the form of the device as here shown,

there is provided a central section 10 hav-- ing a back wall 11 and a bottom 12. The bottom 12 extends the full width of the case and thus pro ects forwardly and rearwardly of "the body of this central section.

A rear section 13 has its rear wall 14 hinged to the rear edge of the bottom 12 and closes in dotted lines in Figure 2.

A front section 16 is provided with a front wall 17 which rests on the surface sup orting the case when the front section is ully open. The side and top walls of this section close, edge to edge on the corresponding walls 0 the middle section. Latches 18 hold these two sections in closed position and are released in the usual manner to permit the front section to be folded down as in Fi re 5.

A flexible strip of material 19, preferably termed a false bottom extends between the lateral walls of the sections 10 and 16 and has one edge fixed to the wall v11 at about the center of its hei t and its opposite edge fixed to the wall 1%, in spaced relation to the bin (1 edge, the line of attachment being a out one-fourth the distance from the hinged edge to the opposite edge. This a ing laid on this false bottom is not pinched or creased when the case is closed.

A hanger supporting rack is provided in connection with the invention. Preferably this rack is formed from a single strip of metal bent-to provide a longitudinal portion 20 and upstanding ends 21. These ends are secured to the top and rear of the center section 10. A slot 22 extends longitudlnally of the portion 20 and up into the front portion 21, where it terminates in a T-shaped head 23. Hanger attachments having a shank 24 and a T-head 25, are secured. to ordinary garment hangers 26 and these attachments are so proportioned that they may pass through the slot in the front portion 21, so that the head 25 may rest on the support portion 20 at each side of the slot 22. The hangers 26 may be of any desired form and the garments may be attached thereto by any usual means common in such arti- 0 es.

A bracket 27 is fixed to each lateral 'wall of the section 16 adjacent the top end thereof, these brackets being vertically positioned with the case open as in Figure 5. skeleton presser plate 28 extends between these brackets and is provided on one end with a pintle 29 extendingfrom a plate 30. On its other end the plate 28 carries a spring latch 31. Vertically spaced openings 32 are formed in the brackets 27 for the reception of the pin 29 and'the bolt of the latch 31. Verticall spaced openings 32 are formed in the brac ets 27 for the reception of the'pin 29 and the bolt of the latch 31.

Straps 33 are attached to the under side edge portions of. the false bottom and extend toward each other over the top of said false bottom. A common buckle 34 is used to connect the free ends of these straps.

In using the invention the front section is opened as in Figure 5. Garments Gr are then attached to successive han ers. 26 and these hangers arranged on the anger support one behind the other, the lower art of each garment being brought forwar to lie between the brackets 27 and arranged to extend in a neatly folded condition from its hanger.- The presser plate 28 is now applied. When all of the garments have been thus arranged, they will lie somewhat as shown in the dash and dot lines of Figure 5. The straps 33 are thenbrought across the middle parts of the garments and buckled together so as to draw the garments down in the middle to conform to the curve of the false bottom. In this manner the garments are pulled free from wrinkles and are firmly held in this condition. The case is now closed and since the opposite ends of I the resilient member 19 are fastened at 19,

19 to the sides of the suitcase, the intermediate portion of the false bottom will move downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6,

and in so doing it will stretch the garments which are strapped to it, thereby removing all wrinkles. As the clothing is firmly supported by the rounded false bottom, it will be transported without creasing and when unpacked will be in proper condition for immediate use.

I claim:

1. A ,wardrobe suitcase including a pair of sections hinged at one edge to close one on theother, and a false bottom of resiliently flexible material having one of its ends secured rigidly to the wall ofvone of the sections and its central portion positioned ad- A ing of the suitcase.

3. A wardrobe suitcase including a pair .of sections hinged atone edge to close one on the other, a false bottom of resiliently flexible material having its ends secured to the sections respectively and its central portion positioned adjacent the hinge and means carried by the respective sections in spaced relation to the ends of the false bottom for securing the ends of garments to said respective sections.

4. A wardrobe suitcase including a pair of sections hinged at one edge to close oneon the other, a false bottom of resiliently flexible material having its ends secured to the sections respectively and its central portion positioned adjacent the hinge, means carried by the respective sections in'spaced relation to the ends of the false bottom for securing the ends of garments to said respective sections, and other means for drawing the central ortions of the garments into conformity wit the curvature of the false bottom and there securing them.

' 5. A wardrobe suitcase including a pair of sections hinged at one edge to close one on'the other, a false bottom of resiliently flexible material having its ends secured to the sections respectively and its central portion positioned adjacent the. hinge, means carried by the res ective sections in spaced relation to the en s of the false bottom for securing the ends of garments to said respective sections, straps each having one end fixed to arespective side portion of said false bottom intermediate its ends and adapted to overlie garments resting on the false bottom, and means to connect the free ends of said straps and hold the straps in position across the garments.

In testimony whereof I afiix m signature. I I NAASON Z. BU ERICK. 

